System and method for providing heating, ventilation and air conditioning

Abstract

An under-floor, perimeter-based heating ventilation and air conditioning pressurized air delivery system for use in a space includes a ventilation module, to be located in the floor, a multi-deflection linear bar grille covering the ventilation module, for diffusing the air entering the space, and a pair of apertured plates located below the grille, one plate moves relative to the other to either block more of the resultant apertures, so less air will flow, or to align the apertures, so more air will flow, all at nearly constant velocity and resultant plumage; nuances in aperture size or location allow one segment of the module to engage air flow on a lead-lag basis with respect to the other segments; air flow from the lead apertures induces air flow through a proximate under-floor heating module, to both increase its heat output and temper the ventilation air.

1. A system for modulating the flow of air to be supplied to a space, the system comprising:
 a plenum for supplying pressurized air to the space; 
 a ventilation module having an upper area and a lower area, the ventilation module being in communication with the plenum for receiving the pressurized air from the plenum and conveying the pressurized air to the space; 
 a grille having at least one diffusing rib extending longitudinally along the grille, the grill being located proximate the upper area of the module for diffusing the pressurized air exiting the ventilation module into the space; 
 a first apertured plate located below the grille, the first apertured plate having a plurality of holes defining a gross aperture area exposed to the plenum for providing a flow of air; and 
 wherein a hole of the plurality of holes has an aspect ratio different than one such that it has a longitudinal extent aligned substantially transverse to the longitudinal extent of the diffusing rib of the grille. 
 
   
   
     2. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second apertured plate located proximate the first apertured plate, the apertured plates being movable with respect to each other to define a net aperture area exposed to the plenum. 
   
   
     3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the net aperture area is variable to affect the volume of air passing the apertured plates while maintaining a substantially constant velocity of the air passing the apertured plates. 
   
   
     4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first apertured plate comprises a first set of cross members, a second set of cross members, and a third set of cross members, each set of cross members having predetermined angles different than the other two sets of cross members. 
   
   
     5. A system for modulating the flow of air to be supplied to a space, the system comprising:
 a plenum for supplying pressurized air to the space; 
 a ventilation module having an upper area and a lower area, the ventilation module being in communication with the plenum for receiving the pressurized air from the plenum and conveying the pressurized air to the space; 
 a grille located proximate the upper area of the module for diffusing the pressurized air exiting the ventilation module into the space; 
 a first apertured plate located below the grille, the first apertured plate having a plurality of holes defining a gross aperture area exposed to the plenum for providing a flow of air; 
 a second apertured plate located proximate the first apertured plate, the apertured plates being movable with respect to each other to define a net aperture area exposed to the plenum; and 
 wherein the first and second apertured plates each have a lead aperture and a lag aperture; and further wherein at least the lead aperture in the second plate is larger than the lead aperture in the first plate. 
 
   
   
     6. The system of  claim 2 , further comprising an actuator connected to one of the first and second plates to move the plate for simultaneously modulating the flow from the apertured plates. 
   
   
     7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the system maintains approximately constant air jet velocity and an elevated level of room air mixing through a large range of plenum air flow. 
   
   
     8. A system to modify the flow characteristics of a linear bar type supply air grille to enhance its performance when applied to a perimeter located, under-floor air distribution system, the system comprising:
 a plenum for supplying pressurized air to the linear bar type supply air grille; 
 a ventilation module having an upper area and a lower area, the ventilation module being in communication with the plenum for receiving air from the plenum and conveying the air through the linear bar type supply air grille and to the space; 
 a first apertured plate located below the linear bar type supply air grille, the first apertured plate having a plurality of holes defining a gross aperture area exposed to the plenum for providing a constant velocity flow of air; and 
 a second apertured plate located proximate the first apertured plate, the apertured plates being movable with respect to each other to define a net aperture area exposed to the plenum, 
 wherein the first and second apertured plates each have a first aperture and a second aperture; and further wherein at least the first aperture in the second plate is larger than the first aperture in the first plate. 
 
   
   
     9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the net aperture area is variable to affect the volume of air passing the apertured plates while maintaining a substantially constant velocity of the air passing the apertured plates. 
   
   
     10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the grille is located proximate the upper area of the module for diffusing air exiting the ventilation module into the space and wherein the first apertured plate is fixedly located above the second apertured plate which is movable relative to the first apertured plate. 
   
   
     11. The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an actuator connected to second apertured plate to move the second apertured plate for modulating the flow from the apertured plates and further wherein the system maintains approximately constant air jet velocity and an elevated level of room air mixing through a large range of plenum air flow. 
   
   
     12. A system for passively inducing supplied air to increase the heating output of the system, the system comprising:
 a heating module adapted to be located in a space, the heating module including a partition and a heating element, the heating module having a top open portion to allow heated air to flow; 
 a ventilation module for being located in a space, the ventilation module having an upper area and a lower area, the ventilation module adapted to be in communication with a plenum adapted for supplying pressurized air, wherein the ventilation module is designed to be juxtaposed the heating module; 
 a first apertured plate arranged in a plane and located in the ventilation module, the first apertured plate having a plurality of holes defining a gross aperture area exposed to the plenum for providing a constant velocity flow of air; 
 a second apertured plate located proximate the first apertured plate, the apertured plates being movable with respect to each other to define a net aperture area exposed to the plenum. 
 
   
   
     13. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a second ventilation module located on an opposite side of the heating module from the first ventilation module. 
   
   
     14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second ventilation module comprises a first apertured plate located in the ventilation module, the first apertured plate having a plurality of holes defining a gross aperture area exposed to the plenum for providing a constant velocity flow of air and a second apertured plate located proximate the first apertured plate in the second ventilation module, the first and second apertured plates of the second ventilation module being movable with respect to each other to define a net aperture area exposed to the plenum. 
   
   
     15. The system of  claim 13  further comprising an actuator connected to the first and second ventilation. 
   
   
     16. The system of  claim 14  further comprising an actuator connected to the second plate of the first ventilation module and the second plate of the second ventilation module for controlling the net aperture area exposed to the plenum in each ventilation module. 
   
   
     17. The system of  claim 12  wherein the heating module and the ventilation module each have a length greater than its width and wherein the heating module and the ventilation module have their lengths aligned and are adapted to be installed in an under-floor, perimeter location within a space. 
   
   
     18. The system of  claim 17  further comprising a second ventilation module; and wherein the heating module and the first and second ventilation modules all have a length greater than their width and wherein the heating module and the first and second ventilation modules have their lengths aligned and are all adapted to be installed in an under-floor, perimeter location within a space wherein the heating module is located between the first and second ventilation modules. 
   
   
     19. The system of  claim 10  wherein a first aperture in the second plate is located for early engagement with an aperture in the first plate.